A practitioner of Tantra does everything with absolute presence. The emphasis is on connection to and immersion in every moment. So sex is a Tantric practice when it is experienced in this way - this includes sensual touch and massage. There are a lot of things that create separation in sex - being goal-orientated or trying to get a ‘result’, anxieties about ‘performance’, having an idea in one’s mind about how sex ought to be or ‘what works’, guilt/feeling you shouldn’t enjoy sex, being distracted e.g. by what happened at work today, unresolved issues within the relationship etc. etc….

I read an article in a magazine recently in which couples were talking about their sex lives. One male partner said proudly of sex with his wife “we have become more efficient at sex - because we know what works ” - jeez!!
Tantric touch, massage or sex is not something you do to somebody. But it can become corrupted. I have had clients (predominantly male) who want to learn Tantric massage as if it is something you do to a woman. They are the guys who say “I just want the woman to have pleasure. That is what gives me pleasure” Call me a cynic but I interpret this statement as “I am an egomaniac. I am validated by feeling I am a good lover. Yet I am shut down. And the idea of just being one with another person is terrifying.”

GETTING HIGH
A lot of neo-Tantric groups, teachings and practices such as Tantric massage are a little bit like taking ecstacy. They create a high and a sense of being really open and connected. This can really plant a seed of how life can be so they can be a positive experience if they lead a person towards personal and spiritual growth. But you have to be able to be open and connected while waiting for the train, travelling to work, getting the groceries, cooking dinner etc. as well .

REGARDING KUNDALINI & CHAKRA CONSCIOUSNESS

You can awaken sexual chi and circulate it through the body and it has great health giving benefits. The kundalini however however and its journey through the chakras takes a little more work. Without going into too much detail think of the firing process and yin convergance - undoing the conditioning and returning to pure consciousness - that is the process of awakening the chakras. It is through the letting go of beliefs, opinions, false sense of self - everything that creates separateness that awakens the kundalini. Awakening is experienced on an energetic level - remember in class when Sam had that moment of letting go of a deeply held belief and he felt an energetic opening. In Tantra the conditioned mind is known as ‘differentiating mind’ and “when the differentiating mind is lulled and sleeps, kundalini awakens” I LOVE THAT LINE - SO TRUE!

So kundalini - its a bit more than moving sexual energy. Psychological transformation is needed exactly the kind of stuff we studied all last year. It is the letting go of what ever separates us from really being in the moment that is true Tantric practice. Tantric Hi Ross

Thanks for sending the article.

A practitioner of Tantra does everything with absolute presence. The emphasis is on connection to and immersion in every moment. So sex is a Tantric practice when it is experienced in this way - this includes sensual touch and massage. There are a lot of things that create separation in sex - being goal-orientated or trying to get a ‘result’, anxieties about ‘performance’, having an idea in one’s mind about how sex ought to be or ‘what works’, guilt/feeling you shouldn’t enjoy sex, being distracted e.g. by what happened at work today, unresolved issues within the relationship etc. etc….

I read an article in a magazine recently in which couples were talking about their sex lives. One male partner said proudly of sex with his wife “we have become more efficient at sex - because we know what works ” - jeez!!
Tantric touch, massage or sex is not something you do to somebody. But it can become corrupted. I have had clients (predominantly male) who want to learn Tantric massage as if it is something you do to a woman. They are the guys who say “I just want the woman to have pleasure. That is what gives me pleasure” Call me a cynic but I interpret this statement as “I am an egomaniac. I am validated by feeling I am a good lover. Yet I am shut down. And the idea of just being one with another person is terrifying.”

GETTING HIGH
A lot of neo-Tantric groups, teachings and practices such as Tantric massage are a little bit like taking ecstacy. They create a high and a sense of being really open and connected. This can really plant a seed of how life can be so they can be a positive experience if they lead a person towards personal and spiritual growth. But you have to be able to be open and connected while waiting for the train, travelling to work, getting the groceries, cooking dinner etc. as well .

REGARDING KUNDALINI &CHAKRA CONSCIOUSNESS

You can awaken sexual chi and circulate it through the body and it has great health giving benefits. The kundalini however however and its journey through the chakras takes a little more work. Without going into too much detail think of the firing process and yin convergance - undoing the conditioning and returning to pure consciousness - that is the process of awakening the chakras. It is through the letting go of beliefs, opinions, false sense of self - everything that creates separateness that awakens the kundalini. Awakening is experienced on an energetic level - remember in class when Sam had that moment of letting go of a deeply held belief and he felt an energetic opening. In Tantra the conditioned mind is known as ‘differentiating mind’ and “when the differentiating mind is lulled and sleeps, kundalini awakens” I LOVE THAT LINE - SO TRUE!

So kundalini - its a bit more than moving sexual energy. Psychological transformation is needed exactly the kind of stuff we studied all last year. It is the letting go of what ever separates us from really being in the moment that is true Tantric practice. Tantric massage can be good practice though same as meditation, Tai Chi, yoga, dancing …. can be good practice though same as meditation, Tai Chi, yoga, dancing ….

By Litza Hall

Give a fresh look and feel to your space

By Barbara Hey,

Originally published in Skin Deep, December/January 2007. Copyright 2007. Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals. All rights reserved.

Revamping your practice space is as much for you as for your clients. Whether it’s a paint job, a few new design elements, or a complete overhaul of your room, the result is the same: a refreshed and rejuvenated environment with an influx of new energy. Since you’re spending considerable time in your work area, the first step is to figure out what you need in terms of function. Then decide what–aesthetically speaking–is most pleasing to you. If it’s your own spa, you have more say over the particulars. But even if your room is inside someone else’s location, there are still ways to individualize the area. The more at ease you are, the better for your client, and the better for business.

Smart Space
If it’s your salon and you’re laying out the individual work areas, think breathing room. If walls are already up, you need to work with the dimensions you’ve been given.

“To make the most of a tight space, get your cabinets up on the walls instead of having them on the floor,” says spa consultant Beverlee Garb of Salon Training International in San Diego. “They need to be high enough that you can sit beneath them while working on a client.”

Use equipment that combines several functions, like a magnifying light and steamer. “For ergonomic reasons, everything should be within arm’s reach, at the correct height, and easily accessible,” Garb says. “You should never have to get up and then sit back down during a service.”

Practical Interiors
Focus on the essentials. Your practice space needs to be a chameleon–arranged and designed to maximize efficiency during client visits. It should lend itself to easy clearing and cleaning between sessions.

Don’t forget, however, your room also needs to fulfill your client’s desire for a getaway, a design that relaxes, soothes, and pampers for the duration of treatment. So, pretend you’re the client. What do you see when you enter the room? What is the view from the treatment area? “Treatment rooms are generally small, filled with equipment, with not much space left for decor,” says Carol Griffith, design consultant with Aerial Beauty in New Berlin, Wisconsin.
Within the parameters, think about the basics: color, lighting, and (a big one) clutter management. A fresh coat of paint is an easy way to revive a workspace. Shades to consider include pinks, peaches, lavenders, and soft yellows, suggests Seann Xenja, a Mill Valley, California-based interior designer and feng shui expert. But dramatic use of rich hues–deep reds, clay, and earth tones–are also cropping up in salons. Not all walls have to be uniform either. Paint one wall in a deep hue and the others in complementary shades.
For easy cleaning of your newly painted walls without stripping color, cover the space from the floor to four feet high with a glaze, suggests Alexis Ufland, president of Lexi Design, in New York City, a firm that designs spas. “That way you can spray and wipe clean easily,” she says.

Lighting Illusions
Lighting serves distinct functions for you and your customers. Bright lights are essential for cleaning and prepping between appointments, but are not a positive for clients. Low lighting is best for ambience. “One easy fix is a dimmer switch,” says Griffith, so that brightness can be adjusted easily.

Overhead lighting is not optimal. It’s usually too harsh and the fixture is in direct view while clients are reclining. “The ceiling itself is a design element,” Ufland says. If possible, move all functional equipment like fixtures and sprinklers off to the side, she suggests. Otherwise, camouflage works. One of her spa clients covered the ceiling light with a blue screen, giving it the appearance of water. Make sure such changes are within fire code regulations.

Another redesign option is a floating ceiling, Griffith suggests. A second ceiling, installed a foot or so beneath the original ceiling, can feature lights that bounce illumination upward for a more subtle effect. Wall sconces work well for a treatment room. They too bounce light to the ceiling–another option for soft, indirect light.

As for clutter, “a working closet with a sliding door will beautify the room,” Ufland says. That way equipment, supplies, and even the hamper and sink are hidden from view.

Some tables also have storage areas beneath that can easily be obscured by a bed skirt. Or if space is too limited, keep essentials like sheets and towels in a closet in the hall, and invest in a trolley that oozes style, or shows off products beautifully displayed. Garb notes that a single storage and counter area for staff to access in a back work area cuts down on the quantity of product needed on hand.

Scent, Sound, Touch
To design a pleasing space, it takes more than just visual fixes. “Every sense must be touched,” Ufland says, which suggests other, easily accomplished modifications to the space.
As for a relaxing aural environment, design the overall space so rooms for conversation-free treatments are adjacent to one another. Or invest in a sound system to play calming background music, or a white noise machine to obliterate sounds from the hall or nearby rooms.

Another option that works on several levels is a water feature, which provides a soothing backdrop for treatment. And in the language of feng shui, place it in the wealth corner of the space, Xenja says. (See illustration below.) It can bring abundance into your life.

Scent is another pleasant touch. In an atomizer, mix a favorite essential oil with water, and use it to freshen the room. Also doing double duty, a citrus-scented spray is pleasant while it clears the energy between clients, Xenja says. Better yet, peel an orange, divide into nine sections, and put the slices in a bowl of water to infuse the room with a delightful fresh scent.

New bed linens and towels can be part of a redesign. Select them for how luxurious they feel, as well as their durability, and then stage the room for maximum effect. Don’t just toss a towel on the treatment table, fold silk towels to welcome the next client. Ufland suggests Comphy Company spa bedding for a particularly pleasant tactile experience.

Stick to a Theme
The sky is not the limit when it comes to revamping your practice area, since you no doubt need to keep your space consistent with the rest of the salon. “Spas these days are more of a brand than a mom-and-pop operation, and the brand is represented even through space design, uniforms, and products,” Ufland says. So when you’re considering the design of your particular area, identify a spa theme and stick to it in your decisions.

If you do have control of the total environment, do a bit of soul searching. Are you more holistic and natural? Are you more upscale and glamorous? Do you cater more toward a certain ethnic roup? “Once you identify who you are and what you want to portray, you will attract the type of client that best fits your environment,” Garb says. “Don’t try to be everything to everyone.”

Embracing that identity is about client comfort too. “The customer is drawn to the salon because of its style and will feel at ease in those surroundings, whether modern or traditional,” Griffith says. 4
Your space speaks about you and you can speak about yourself. It’s not only okay to promote your wares, it’s highly desirable. “Don’t assume clients know what you offer,” Garb says. “Just make sure it’s tasteful.” She suggests framing pictures listing services and promotions where clients will notice and be drawn to them.

And finally, design to exceed your clients’ expectations. “Every client expects a comfortable treatment bed, nice sheets, and a warm environment,” Garb says. She suggests extra touches like a comforter instead of a blanket, a warm water bag under the bottom sheet, or warm socks clients take home as a gift. “All of these touches will set you apart from the rest.”

Barbara Hey is a freelance health writer based in Boulder, Colorado. Her work has appeared in several national publications, including Allure, Health, Alternative Medicine, and Parenting.

Sitting in a chair for 8+ hours a day often leads to repetitive stress injury and pain. Learn a practical and easy stretch for clients that sit behind a desk all day.

Quick Relief for the Chair Potato
By Karen Voight
LOS ANGELES TIMES

Do you find yourself spending more and more of your day sitting in a chair? This position often contributes to that stiff back and sore neck you feel at the end of your day or after prolonged sitting. Here is a quick stretch that you can do in a chair with armrests. It helps loosen tight muscles and relieve tension stored in your upper back and neck.

1. Sit near the front of your chair seat. Make sure that your knees are directly over your ankles and that your feet are not tucked underneath the chair. Lift your heels and squeeze your inner thighs together. Cross your arms in front of you, reaching the opposite armrest with each hand.

2. On an exhale, pull your navel in toward the back of your chair. Round your entire back and spread your shoulder blades apart as much as you can. Drop your chin toward your chest. Relax while you breathe deeply for six to eight breaths. Repeat as often as possible throughout the day.

Posted by Nicole at 03:50 PM
© 2009 Institute for Integrative HealthCare Studies. This work is reproduced with the permission of the Institute. www.Integrative-Healthcare.org

Massage therapists have many modalities to choose from to help relax hypertonic muscles. However, the gentle and effective technique of strain counterstrain is one of the best ways to convince shortened tissue to lengthen.

by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.

Often forgotten by bodyworkers, strain counterstrain (SCS) is a positional release technique that is invaluable when working with clients experiencing acute muscular pain. Several professions have embraced SCS, and it is one of the first applications therapists can try to help someone with an extremely tender location that has a limited range of motion.

In the January 26, 2009 edition of ADVANCE for Physical
Therapists and PT Assistants, Tom Dalonzo-Baker, PT describes how this positional release technique helped his client. According to Dalonzo-Baker, a patient scheduled for disc herniation surgery in four days entered his clinic bent over backward in agonizing back pain. He knelt down and allowed her body to relax, bent backward, over his knee. While thinking of how to best help her, he noticed that the woman’s posture relaxed. After several minutes, the woman stood erect for the first time in three weeks.

Dalonzo-Baker postulates that positioning her body further into the restriction allowed her to stand upright. Moving away from the restriction is thought to reduce aberrant afferent impulses sent to the spinal cord – and characterize the value of strain counterstrain technique.

About SCS
Strain counterstrain is a manual massage technique for relieving musculoskeletal spasms and pain. A positional release technique, SCS was developed in 1981 by the osteopathic physician Dr. Lawrence Jones. It is a gentle and safe technique that relieves spinal or other joint pain by passively shortening the affected muscle areas.

Repetitive or acute strains can lead to the development of painful tender spots. Dr. Jones identified the most common tender points that result from an abnormal reflex or unnatural movement. SCS focuses on correcting abnormal neuromuscular reflexes by finding the client’s position of comfort and determining at what point his/her tenderness diminishes. SCS involves:

· Having the client hold his/her position of comfort for approximately 90 seconds

· Then, the client is slowly brought out of this position, allowing the body to reset its muscles to a normal level of tension

· SCS is well-tolerated because it positions the recipient opposite his/her restricted barrier and towards the position of greatest comfort

An Explanation
Various scientists have offered explanations as to why SCS is so effective. Written in the 1970s, Irwin Korr’s work on muscle spindles and facilitated segments provides a solid rationalization for SCS. According to Korr, the counterstrain point is on the opposite side of a strained or suddenly stretched joint, otherwise known as the over-shortened side. The physiology that actually occurs on this side is a sudden shortening followed by a rapid return to normal length. On the strained side, the muscle spindles are recruited to protect the rapidly lengthening muscle from damage, creating an immediate reflex contraction. This muscle can then get stuck in a functionally shortened position.

During an SCS session, the practitioner palpates to identify active tender points related to hypertonic musculature. When the appropriate position is held during SCS, the muscles gain strength and diminish in tenderness. The proprioceptor nerves register the changes in the position of the muscle and enable it to remain in this neutral position even when the force applied by the practitioner has been removed.

Applications
In addition to restoring range of motion, strain counterstrain can help alleviate pain and discomfort in muscles and joints. Some examples of when to consider SCS for a client include:

· Post-injury pain
· Whiplash
· For a child or elderly person in pain
· Neck and back pain
· Fibromyalgia

Learning the strain counterstrain technique better equips massage therapists to help their clients overcome different kinds of pain. Designed to correct traumatically induced aberrant reflex changes that hold a dysfunctional muscular pattern, SCS is an excellent first choice for dealing with extreme discomfort. As witnessed in Dalonzo-Baker’s client with back pain, finding someone’s most comfortable position can bring them the breakthrough relief they are hoping to find.

Recommended Study:
Fibromyalgia and Massage
Myofascial Release
Sports Massage

References:

http://www.articlecity.com/articles/health/article_5788.shtml, Strain Counter-Strain, Sharon Hopkins, Retrieved February 1, 2009, Icthus.net, October 2006.

http://www.chiroweb.com/mpacms/dc/article.php?id=9223, “Strain-Counterstrain, Marc Heller, DC, Retrieved February 1, 2009, Dynamic Chiropractic, June 2003.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B758B-4KHC39W-4&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=e10aabfe6b671d7c5482f91319879702, Immediate effects of the strain/counterstrain technique in local pain evoked by tender points in the upper trapezius muscle, Albert Atienza Meseguer, et al, Retrieved February 1, 2009, Clinical Chiropractic, September 2006.

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/physical-therapy/specific-manual-physical-therapy-techniques, Specific manual physical therapy techniques, Robert J. Daul, MPT, Retrieved February 1, 2009, Spine-health.com, 2009.

http://www.massagetherapy101.com/massage-techniques/strain-and-counter-strain.aspx, Strain / Counter Strain, Retrieved February 1, 2009, massagetherapy101.com, 2009.

Mosher, Nathaniel, DPT, PT, CSCS, Empowered Patients, ADVANCE for Physical Therapists and PT Assistants, January 26, 2009; 32-33.

Posted by Editors at 02:53 PM

© 2009 Institute for Integrative HealthCare Studies. This work is reproduced with the permission of the Institute. www.Integrative-Healthcare.org

As both a healthcare practitioner and educator, learn how massage therapists can help offer symptom relief to clients with irritable bowel syndrome.

by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.

Dealing with chronic digestive problems is frustrating, especially when medical intervention offers little help. Affecting up to 55 million Americans, one of the more common chronic digestive problems is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Because it is so common, most bodyworkers will have at least one client suffering from IBS. In and of itself, relaxation-based massage can help IBS sufferers. However, several additional strategies for supporting bowel health and relieving symptoms helps massage therapists empower their clients with IBS.

About Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Previously known as spastic colon, approximately one in five American adults has IBS. While its symptoms are usually not as severe as the more serious intestinal diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, IBS can dramatically interfere with someone’s quality of life. Despite its prevalence, many people suffer silently because of the embarrassing symptoms, the most common of which are:

· Abdominal cramping
· Bloating
· Flatulence
· Diarrhea
· Constipation
· Alternating diarrhea and constipation
· Mucus in the stool

Although IBS does not injure the intestines or increase colon cancer risk, its symptoms can mask or be concurrent with other more serious diseases. Therefore, chronic bowel problems are always best evaluated by a physician prior to being labeled as IBS.

Experts do not agree on the origin of irritable bowel syndrome. Three proposed physiological causes for IBS are:

1. Muscular – Normally, the intestine walls’ muscles contract and relax in a coordinated rhythm to move food from the stomach through the intestinal tract. However, the intestines of someone with IBS tend towards a longer and stronger contraction time, resulting in cramping pain, gas, bloating and diarrhea. When the relaxing action of the intestine’s muscles dominates, the passage of food slows down and results in constipation.

2. Neurological – Since the nervous system regulates muscular contraction and bowel sensation, a neurological imbalance may be behind IBS. A typical reason for IBS pain is an enhanced sensitivity to the normal stretching of the intestines as food or gas makes their way through.

3. Hormonal – Since women are twice as likely to have IBS as men, some believe that hormones are a causative factor. Additionally, the symptoms of IBS are often worse during or surrounding a woman’s menses.

Massage Therapy Intervention
For a majority of sufferers, IBS symptoms are aggravated by certain foods and stress. However, most experts agree that stress and food sensitivities do not cause irritable bowel syndrome. Despite its unidentified origins, IBS can be controlled largely with dietary adjustments and stress management.

For massage therapists, helping clients release stress typically has a dramatic effect on lessening unwanted intestinal symptoms. For this reason, a traditional relaxation-based Swedish massage lessens IBS severity in many people. Additional suggestions for improving intestinal health include:

· Deep Breathing – Deep breathing can be taught during a massage session and should be routinely practiced by the client. Instead of breathing from the chest only, diaphragmatic breathing allows the belly to expand and contract fully, which helps relax local muscles fostering more normal bowel activity.

· Probiotics – Those with IBS may be overrun with symptom-causing bacteria. Found in yogurt and dietary supplements, probiotics are the good bacteria that occupy the intestines. For many sufferers, supplementing with probiotics improves the intestine’s bacterial balance, which ultimately eases symptoms.

· Heat – Because heat expands and thus relaxes muscles, applying a hot pack over cramping intestines often provides immediate pain relief. Additionally, heat’s ability to induce relaxation makes it a wise choice for preventing the stress buildup that typically precipitates an IBS attack. In addition to beginning a massage session with a hot pack on the lower belly, encourage your client to use one at home.

Because stress aggravates IBS, receiving regular relaxation-based massages typically reduces the frequency and severity of irritable bowel syndrome’s symptoms. However, giving your clients the tools to help themselves proves invaluable. By instructing people with IBS to practice a regular deep breathing routine, supply their intestines with good bacteria and apply heat to their lower abdomen, you can help your client gain control over their own intestinal health.

Recommended Study:
Advanced Anatomy and Physiology
Swedish Massage for Professionals

References:

http://www.massagemag.com/ExtraEdit/133/IBS.php, Stress Makes People Prone To Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Retrieved September 3, 2008, medicalnewstoday.com, 2008.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/irritable-bowel-syndrome/DS00106, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Retrieved September 2, 2008, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2008.

http://www.ultimatewatermassage.com/herbal-heat-therapy/big-pack-heating-IBS.htm, Therapeutic Heat for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Retrieved September 3, 2008, Ultimate Water Massage, 2008.

http://www.webmd.com/ibs/, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Health Center, Retrieved September 2, 2008, WebMD LLC, 2008.

Posted by Editors at 03:54 PM

© 2009 Institute for Integrative HealthCare Studies. This work is reproduced with the permission of the Institute. www.Integrative-Healthcare.org